2017 US Open Preview: Leaderboard: Tee Times: Erin Hills Golf Course

FIVE Aussie golfers will take to the already controversial Erin Hills Golf Course this week for the 117th US Open.

The Aussie charge is led by world number three Jason Day, number twelve Adam Scott, serial major performer Marc Leishman as well as Nick Flanagan and Wade Ormsby. (We have a full run down of their form and tee times etc below)

Much of the pre event attention has been on the Erin Hills course itself, with various opinions about its fitness as a major event.

The course, located in the north central United States 55 km northwest of Milwaukee, was only opened in 2006 and much of its design was aimed at specifically attracting the open. (Full course flyover videos below)

The architects meanwhile were sprouting the unusually penalising bunkers and some closely mown greenside runoffs as the real course defences.

Many of the 138 bunkers on the par 72 course are not flat at the base meaning players will be getting lots of downhill, uphill and sideway lies. Many of the greenside bunkers are also erratically shaped and players will find themselves in positions where they don’t have a swing at the flag.

Pros don’t usually mind being in greenside bunkers, but maybe not many of these.

We are among those just hoping for a tournament that is a real test of skill for the world’s best golfers and that the event is won by the golfer in the best form, and not by a course oddity or some rules controversy.

Brian is an award winning golf writer and is the founder and editor of Australian Senior Golfer. He is a former Sydney journalist who had little interest in golf till he hit his first ball at the age of 49 (and a half). Since then golf has just about overtaken his life. Brian founded ASG in April 2008 and has since covered every Australian Open, Presidents Cups, World Cups and numerous other big men’s and women’s tournaments, spending days inside the ropes with the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Greg Norman, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Karrie Webb, and many others. He has also played in, and reported on, numerous amateur tournaments, particularly senior and veteran events, around the country. Brian is a member of the Australian Golf Media Association and won the award for Best News Report for 2016 - 2017